Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-29
FACTS CONCERNING CANCER.

A Disease More Prevalent Among the Rich
Than the roor->o Radical Cure
This disease appears to be largely on the
increase. From tho report of the registrar
general We learn there were So.0j9 deaths
in England from this cause during the ten
years from 1850 10 1859. an annual increase
Of 24S. From 1870 to 1872 the annual in
creaTe was 3a.. Though We have no sta
tistics at hand, medical practitioners are
generally inclined 20 admit that this dis
ease Is alarmingly on the increase in the
United States
Ii seems TO he more prevalent in the
heated and intense life of cities than in
the country: among the rich and well TO do
than among the poor. According to French
authority. Tho proportion Of cancer in
France among the wealthy classes is about
lO6 in ,00a among the poorer classes -
in 1.O0-lO per cent of the former and :
per cent. of the latter. IL seems To he u
morbid growth upon civilization, as it is
rarely found among savage men. Like the
scale and other fruit pests that prey upon
our orchards and vineyards. the shadow Of
this balcful parasitic growth hovers around
the homes OF ease and luxury and high liy-
ing. rather than pioneer cabins. the camps
and huts OF miners, loggers hunters and
fishermen. Observation shows that it is
fond Of localities. Ii is said 10 be wholly
unknown in the Farce islands. IL Ice
land in one year there were only thirty
seven cases ont of 5000 inhabitants.
Considering the geographical extent of
England IL is more prevalent. malignant
and fatal there than elsewhere, and
among English speaking people than any
other race II Is To BE- found more largely
among women than men and mere among
those who have been mothers. IL is most
likely Ia appear between the ages Of 81
and 10. II stands almost alone IA dis
ease tia: increases with our excited life
and prosperity and while health laws and
improved sanitation are raising the
standard OF health this hideous and
loathsome malady rests as a blot upon our
vital statistics.
As lar as known cancer does not arise
from any micro organisms ar germs and
consequently is not infectious or con
tagious. Ii cannot be caught nor given.
Blu if il he true that cancerous, persons
do not propagate the disease il is almost
certain they beget consumptive chill
dren, and consumption is always re-
sult of debility, want Of general health.
whatever may be the Immediate cause
Still cancer often attacks persons in the
most vigorous health and consequently =
bard n classify in terms of causaticn.
IL is sad commentary on our hoaSte,i
healing art, with its rlch heritage OF more
than . Thousand years that this Giseaseis
still classed among the incurables Many
of Our most learned and widely expert
enced physicians confess that they have
no faith III any known remedy, and tc-
lieve that all that can be done is To merci
fully let the wretched sufferer ss goftlr
into the grave rs possible There are
few who still think that electricity my
furnish some alleyiat;on, but rs q Gu %.
tive agent ii has but few followers. L,
seems to be melancholy concurrence
9aong medical men that no confidence
IAN be placed in medication, and uat "a
long as the etiology OF tie disease is
wrapped in mystery, il is n waste of time to
discuss its therapeutics. The knife is now
about the only accepted remedy with the
profession throughout the world bat even
Ihat it is admitted can only avail in the
lncipiency of the disease, which is liable
TO break out again. IL is always !. local
disease at the start, but spreads by means
OF blood vessels and lympbatics. first to
he nearest gland. then mere distant, ami
when this occurs it is no longer local but
constitutional, and the surgeon is power
less. At the start cancer seems closely
allied with the tnGior family, and las usu-
ally become constitutional before it uG-
masks itself. Once in the blood il is hope
lessly beyond all surgical eradicat;cn-
Halls Journal of Health.